Worlingham aviation historian Ian McLachan has joined the campaign to save the archive, and said it was vital for the community for it to remain.

“Growing up in Lowestoft, I became fascinated by the legacy of aviation in the area and my first book Final Flights entailed numerous visits to the record office.

“My intention had been to donate the original source material and other archives to the record office for the benefit of future historians.

“However, the decision to close such an important access to local history is now making me reconsider this action.”

He added: “If the town is robbed of its own records office, it will diminish the community and discourage research, leading to a dilution of local knowledge and a reduction in the town’s spirit of celebrating its past.”

Mr Hicks moved to reassure locals that while he couldn’t confirm the future of the record office in place now, plans would be established to keep an archive facility in north Suffolk.

“The way we are going to take it forward is that we are going to work with the community,” he said. The message is very clear from the residents of Lowestoft about where they feel the records office should be.”

He added: “Let’s look at the project, reach a solution, agree what is best for the community and best for Lowestoft and the wider area, and then we can come up with a plan of how we can look to fund it.”